Protect Blithfield Anglers — Support Your Angling Community
South Staffs Water (SSW) has announced that the fishery will close at the end of October 2026. The current members and team have submitted a bid to take over the club and continue to operate after SSWs withdrawal and enable Blithfield Anglers to continue into 2027 and beyond.
ACT NOW to help us and keep fishing at Blithfield.
Friendly and for everyone
Blithfield Reservoir is not just a body of water; it is a cherished site with a rich legacy of community, nature, and outdoor enjoyment. For 70 years, the Blithfield Fly Fishing Club has played a pivotal role in maintaining this tradition, safeguarding the reservoir as a sanctuary for anglers, nature enthusiasts, and the broader community.
Community Impact
Blithfield has provided high-quality fly fishing for local anglers, and visitors for 70 years. It also contributes to local businesses. It is unique in many ways and effectively irreplaceable.
Its size and the extensive bank fishing with vehicle access to the most popular areas as well as the availability of boats to reach the deeper water and remoter parts are not replicated elsewhere. It is a peaceful but easily accessible stillwater set in beautiful Staffordshire countryside.
Environmental and Security Concerns
The possible closure raises questions about habitat management and long‑term stewardship as well as the security of this important national infrastructure. Blithfield is a SSSI site of national importance. The anglers provide important supervision of these aspects and are the only people providing patrols and communication with the various groups using the paths surrounding the reservoir. Upkeep of the facilities has declined over past seasons.
The new club would work to reinstate the safe and attractive facilties that used to exist.
The BASG response
Within a few weeks of the closure announcement we had established our action group, reached out to SSW and local authorities and businesses, and initiated a petition to demonstrate the broad support for Blithfield Anglers.
SSW realised that the closure was not something the local community and our wide ranging angling community was ready to accept. There had been no warning, consultation, or attempt to consider alternative means of the angling continuing. Eventually a public meeting was held and SSW announced that they were open to proposals.
After more weeks of delay whilst SSW prepared an Information Pack, BASG have provided a clear, high-quality proposal to SSW for us to take responsibility for the ongoing operations of the angling and related activities as a community-owned non-profit organisation.
This was submitted in mid-July2026 and because SSW have yet to respond we have decided to press on and build support and practical help to allow the club to be quickly established and financed should we be the successful bidder.
About the Closure
South Staffs Water announced the closure of Blithfield Fishery in April 2026 without any prior warning or consultation and with near-immediate effect after years of declining standards.
Their decision affects anglers, local businesses, and the wider community.
SSW had neglected the fishery and other aspects of the reservoir's public facilities for many years. Although they had taken back responsibility for the angling many years ago they failed to operate and maintain the facilities. The fish farm was allowed to degrade to the point of being unsafe. Equipment that failed was not repaired or replaced. This led to the fish having to be transferred to the reservoir ahead of schedule this year to avoid a mass fish kill event as temperatures increased.
General maintenance and upkeep has suffered in the same way and staff that left were not replaced.
At the public meeting there was evident concern that the complete lack of any warning or attempt to work with the anglers to continue operations, combined with the above neglect, made recovery very difficult.
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Closure announced without prior consultation
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SSW did not order fish for 2027
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Impact on local anglers and businesses as well as the UK fly-fishing community
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Time is very short which is why we ask that you act now to support us
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Community response now underway
The BASG Vision
We are determined to re-establish and keep operating the fly-fishing and other angling activities and return Blithfield to a high-quality integrated fishery offering open access as well as memberships.
Our vision is simple:
Blithfield will remain a premier fly‑fishing stillwater, run for anglers, by anglers.
We aim to build one of the best public fly‑fishing operations in the UK - accessible, friendly, modern, and sustainable.
Key principles include:
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Year‑round operations with sensible seasonal closures
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A stocking policy geared to enjoyment of the angling
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Member access during seasonal closures to suit
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Boats improved
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A welcoming, premium club atmosphere and facilities
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Fly fishing as the core, with limited coarse fishing
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Accessibility improvements, boats incl.
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Youth engagement and new‑angler development
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Coaching for all ages and abilities
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A tackle affordability and access scheme
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A club committee to guide decisions and represent members
Our aim is to create a fishery that novices and experts alike can enjoy—one that reflects the needs of today’s anglers and the future of the sport.
Next Steps
Because SSW are taking so long to even review our proposal (there are 3 others too, we are told) we have launched this appeal for support before we know if we have been selected. This is because we are only 2 months from closure and there are growing multiple urgent issues including:
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SSW did not order fish for 2027, so someone has to - this is normally planned at least 2 years in advance
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Staff are being made redundant at the end of November and we consider them to be vital to the effective operation of the fishery
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Because we had no warning of this we were not organised, and funding is critical to addressing the above
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Because SSW has no record of customers or ticket holders we have to start our marketing efforts from scratch. This website is the first important sterp in that
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With no effective sales, marketing, or other investment for 10 years or so the operator also has to deal with a huge backlog of modernisation and investment
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There are multiple financial, legal, and commercial matters that must be resolved before operations, and sales, can start
I1. Our focus has to remain on helping our bid win, and then negotiating with SSW to achieve a reasonable agreement in a very short timeframe of perhaps one month. That includes an operational lease, which SSW appear to take an average of 2 years to negotiate in normal circumstances. Our bid competitors will face the same issues.
2. this appeal for practical and financial support is therefore crucial and wide-ranging. We need help in every commercial, legal, and financial area to run multiple concurrent activities, and practical help to undertake maintenance and other tasks that taking over from SSW will entail.
3. This whole effort therefore relies upon people like you who are not currently engaged with us. If you can offer some form of help please send us your details and allow us to contact you to discuss how you can help us save Blithfield Anglers. We would have liked 2 or 3 years to achieve what we are now doing. We believe it is doable with your support.
Register as a supporter
A growing coalition of anglers, clubs, businesses, and community groups are behind our bid.
Sign up to receive news about funding, memberships, day tickets, special offers for founding members etc., and how to help us.
Note: we will only use your data to help our bid to operate Blithfield Anglers. BASG will not share your information with anyone else for any other purpose and it will only be shared with another person or entity if you express a wish to contribute funds or offer volunteer support etc. and in connection with that wish.